Graham Greene, the Oneida Canadian actor whose career ranged from the Oscar-nominated film Dances with Wolves to television’s 1883 and Tulsa King, died September 1, 2025, in Stratford, Ontario. He was 73. His agent said Greene had been battling a lengthy illness; no specific diagnosis was reported.
What was reported about Graham Greene’s death
The Associated Press reported that Greene died in Stratford, Ontario, on Monday, September 1, 2025, at age 73. His agent, Michael Greene, described the illness as lengthy, but the report did not name a diagnosis. The Guardian’s initial report gave the location as Toronto and was amended to Stratford.
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Michael Greene said, “He was a great man of morals ethics, character and will be eternally missed,” and added, “God bless you. You are finally free.”
His breakthrough role in Dances with Wolves
Greene became widely known as Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner’s 1990 western Dances with Wolves. Kicking Bird, a Sioux holy man, welcomes Lieutenant John Dunbar into his community. Greene’s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for supporting actor. The film received 12 Oscar nominations and won seven awards, according to the Associated Press.
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Preparing for the part meant learning Lakota dialogue phonetically. Greene told True West magazine in 2021, as quoted by the Guardian, “It took three months to learn the dialogue,” and, “I had no idea what I was saying and I had to learn it phonetically.”
Costner remembered Greene as “a master at work and a wonderful human being,” and said, “I’m grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy.”
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A career across film, television and games
Greene was born in June 1952 in Ohsweken, Ontario, on Canada’s Six Nations Reserve. He was Oneida. Before acting, he worked as a draftsman, high steelworker, welder and carpenter, and began acting in the 1970s. Early screen credits included the Canadian series The Great Detective in 1979 and the 1983 film Running Brave.
Film roles
After Dances with Wolves, Greene appeared in a wide range of films, including Thunderheart (1992), Maverick (1994), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Green Mile (1999), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and Wind River (2017).
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Television and video games
His television credits included Northern Exposure, Longmire, Reservation Dogs, The Last of Us, 1883 and Tulsa King. He also voiced Chief Rains Fall in the 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
Greene’s comments on Indigenous representation
The Guardian’s obituary recounts Greene’s experience with early scripts that expected Indigenous actors to play narrow stereotypes. In remarks quoted there from 1992, Greene said, “I’m tired of being mystical and stoic.” His own account reflects the constraints he encountered in his work; it should not be taken as a claim about every role or every Indigenous performer’s experience.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A Grammy and a lifetime achievement award
Greene won a Grammy in 2000 for Listen to the Storyteller, a spoken-word album for children. The Guardian also reports that he received Gemini and Canadian Screen awards. In June 2025, he received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement.
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